Redhawk Caldera goldskip

as eljay hugged her, she was crying now, suddenly, hating herself for it. teya sobbed openly in front of him for a moment, only stopping to cover her face with a paw, shoulders shaking. 
"there was no heat this year." she forced her voice to stay calm; it emerged ragged but otherwise. "uh — nothing." she shrugged. "not even hint."
teya let out her breath in a long, jagged exhale — 
"you are midwife." her voice was somber. "can you tell me for sure?"